Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Paul Thomas Anderson Announces Next Film, Starts His Own Religionhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/paul-thomas-anderson-next-film-religion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/paul-thomas-anderson-next-film-religion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/paul-thomas-anderson-next-film-religion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rejoice! It's time for Paul Thomas Anderson and Philip Seymour Hoffman to work together again. After Sydney, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and Punch Drunk Love, Variety reports that the two are teaming up for a new feature about a man who creates his own religion. But don't celebrate too much -- this news is still in the early stages. Anderson is said to be planning to submit a finished script to Universal, who will then decide whether or not they will greenlight it (um, yes please). AND, the trade couldn't get comment from the studio, or either man's reps.

But here's what we do know. Should this go into production, there will be a $35 million price tag with Hoffman finally getting center stage playing "the Master" (as in master of ceremonies), a charismatic man who starts "a faith-based organization" in the 1950s. He teams up with a twentysomething drifter named Freddie who becomes his "lieutenant" until the kid finds himself questioning the faith he's gotten himself involved in.

For those of you foaming at the mouth at the thought of a Scientology/Mormon critique, hold on. Variety says: "The drama does not so much scrutinize self-started churches like Scientology or the Mormons, as much as it explores the need to believe in a higher power, the choice of which one to embrace and the point at which a belief system graduates into a religion." Nevertheless, it's about time PTA let PSH grab the full reigns of his vision. Let's hope the whole thing comes to fruition.

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]]>CinematicalPaul Thomas AndersonPaulThomasAndersonPhilip Seymour HoffmanPhilipSeymourHoffmanThe MasterTheMasterMonika BartyzelWed, 02 Dec 2009 23:32:00 ESTThe Kinks Get a Biopichttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/the-kinks-get-a-biopic/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/the-kinks-get-a-biopic/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/the-kinks-get-a-biopic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Kinks will soon have us! The English rock band (aka the dudes behind the song "You Really Got Me") are getting a feature biopic. ScreenDaily reports that British director Julien Temple is collaborating with frontman Ray Davies on a film that will focus on the relationship between Ray and fellow bandmate and brother Dave Davies. The two were the only steady members of the band, and as Temple explains: "At the heart of [the feature] is the extraordinary love-hate relationship between these two brothers: love/hate, sibling rivalry is at the core."

Right now Temple and Davies are sussing out the approach before any screenplay is started. Of course, that also means that there is no cast yet, but Temple will require the actors to be able to play The Kinks music: "I think you would want to have the music played by the actors ... that is believable and real while miming is problematic." His words to Hollywood god's ears! On that basis alone, I'm psyched to see this come together. (She writes, while trying not to eagerly expect another perfect beauty like Control.)

But there is a reason to anticipate this, besides the subject, since Temple is the man behind flicks like The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, plus a whole bunch of music videos, like, oh, Van Halen's Jump. But who could possibly pull off the acting and music chops of The Kinks? Sound off below with your casting choices ...

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]]>CinematicalJulien TempleJulienTempleRay DaviesRayDaviesThe KinksTheKinksMonika BartyzelWed, 02 Dec 2009 21:45:00 ESTSummit Moves From Sparkly Vamps to an Assassin's 'Alibi'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/summit-moves-from-sparkly-vamps-to-an-assassins-alibi/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/summit-moves-from-sparkly-vamps-to-an-assassins-alibi/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/summit-moves-from-sparkly-vamps-to-an-assassins-alibi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Back in September, I wondered what Summit would spend their big wad of Twilight cash on. They're primed to rake in a couple billion by the time this is all over. The company made almost $385 mil at the box office with the first installment (having spent only $37 mil), and so far $476,334,668 with the second (having spent only $50 mil). And now they're turning their attention toward assassins.

Variety reports that Summit Entertainment has signed on to bring the comic Alibi to the big screen -- a production that kicked into gear back in August. Written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and illustrated by Jeremy Haun, Top Cow's Alibi focuses on the classic socialite-with-a-secret-job scenario. But instead of just putting on a flimsy mask and getting to work, this assassin's got the perfect cover -- a secret twin brother. See, one is the assassin and one is the socialite, and they both work under the same identity. John Hlavin, who will write the next Underworld installment, has been tapped to pen the script.

I think Summit is on the right track -- grabbing a big action film that is in high contrast to the teen-led vampire and werewolf world, and also has the ability to make some good cash. And, let's hope, they continue to find the ways to make big movies cheaply, rather than soaring to new heights with a franchise before seeing it all wash away (yes, I'm thinking about New Line).

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]]>AlibiCinematicalJeremy HaunJeremyHaunJohn HlavinJohnHlavinJoshua Hale FialkovJoshuaHaleFialkovSummit EntertainmentSummitEntertainmentMonika BartyzelWed, 02 Dec 2009 18:45:00 EST'Green Lantern' Will Choose Adventure Over Originhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/green-lantern-will-choose-adventure-over-origin/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/green-lantern-will-choose-adventure-over-origin/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/02/green-lantern-will-choose-adventure-over-origin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Every day, I hope we'll get another big piece of The Green Lantern casting (and not just an open casting call) such as Sinestro or Carol Ferris, or even Abin Sur. This is a movie we're all really eager to see take shape. But for now, we'll have to be content with hints about the script, which Ryan Reynolds gave to the MTV Splash Page.

Reynolds revealed that Hal Jordan won't be the beneficiary of a very intense origin story: "It is [an origin story] to a certain degree, but it's not a labored origin story, where the movie [truly] begins in the third act. The movie starts when it starts. We find out Hal is the guy fairly early on, and the adventure begins." That probably comes as a surprise to anyone even remotely familiar with Lantern mythology, as the intergalactic world Hal comes to inhabit is pretty complex and detailed. It would be an easy thing to bog the movie down in that, though, and maybe giving it a more cursory approach is better. This is intended as a franchise after all, and they can always go deeper with subsequent films.

The man who will be Hal Jordan also stressed that the film won't be just about the green and black suit, but about the man who inhabits it. "I think you walk away from this first film, and the moments that you remember and the moments that mean so much to you, not unlike Iron Man, are the moments where the guy's not in the suit. That to me is the tough thing to get right."

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]]>hal jordanHalJordanmartin campbellMartinCampbellRyan ReynoldsRyanReynoldsThe Green LanternTheGreenLanternWarner BrosWarnerBrosElisabeth RappeWed, 02 Dec 2009 18:02:00 ESTDisney Remaking 'The Black Hole' With 'Tron' Teamhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/disney-remaking-the-black-hole-with-tron-team/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/disney-remaking-the-black-hole-with-tron-team/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/12/01/disney-remaking-the-black-hole-with-tron-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's a new day at Disney with their new studio chief, Rich Ross, and everyone has been rather eager to see what new direction the studio moved in, and what projects they fast tracked. It turns out that their new vision is a rather old one. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has dug deep into the vaults and decided to remake The Black Hole. They've put Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski and producer Sean Bailey on the project, hoping that they can make The Black Hole as cool as they've made all things Tron.

I feel terrible, but I have absolutely no memory of this film. I know I probably saw it at some point, but its lovable droids have been wiped out by multiple viewings of Star Wars, so allow me to recap. The 1979 original centered on a group of space explorers discover the lost USS Cygnus, floating dead on the edge of a black hole. Logically they haven't seen Event Horizon, so they happily board the ship to what's become of the crew. There they meet a scientist and his group of robot friends (some cute, and one mean, red, and named Maximilian), and he claims his crew deserted him when he tried to travel through the black hole. Of course, he's not telling the truth. The robots are the former Cygnus crew, and the scientist has no intention of letting them leave. Dun dun dun ...

Naturally, the remake won't be a straight-up retelling, and Disney is keeping the plot a secret. The only thing they're willing to reveal is that the menacing robot Maximilian will return, and that the black hole will be more of a plot point. Science will also be involved, and I imagine a little Star Trek too. Will it inspire the instant excitement of Tron: Legacy? Or will it be an entirely new concept to most moviegoers?

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]]>Disneyjoseph kosinskiJosephKosinskiSean BaileySeanBaileythe black holeThe Black Hole remakeTheBlackHoleTheBlackHoleRemaketron legacyTronLegacyElisabeth RappeTue, 01 Dec 2009 20:32:00 ESTBen Kingsley to Build the Taj Majalhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/ben-kingsley-to-build-the-taj-majal/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/ben-kingsley-to-build-the-taj-majal/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/ben-kingsley-to-build-the-taj-majal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In 1982, Ben Kingsley became Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi. The film instantly became a classic and went on to dominate the Oscars, earning Best Picture, Director, Actor, Writing, Editing, Costume Design, Cinematography, and Art Direction. And even though those are ridiculously enormous shoes to fill, the Guardian reports that Kingsley is heading back to Indian history to play Shah Jahan, the emperor who built the Taj Mahal.

Back in the mid-1600s, Shah Jahan was a Mughal Emperor who was devastated when his favorite (third) wife Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their fourteenth child. In her honor, he decided to erect a grand mausoleum that would not only be epically impressive and beautiful, but also so glorious that sins would be washed away. It took roughly 21 years to create and has been included on some Seven Wonders of the World lists.

Titled Taj, the script was written by British novelist and playwright David Ashton, and is still looking for a director. Alongside Kingsley will be Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who will play Mumtaz Mahal. This won't, however, be her first stab at the object of such desire: The former Miss World and Bride & Prejudice star played Mumtaz in the 2007 short musical, Journey Across India.

SBK Pictures is hoping to start production in the fall of 2010, but for now: Do you think Kingsley can make Indian history win in Hollywood once again?

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]]>Aishwarya Rai BachchanAishwaryaRaiBachchanben KingsleyBenKingsleyCinematicalDavid AshtonDavidAshtonTajTaj MahalTajMahalMonika BartyzelWed, 25 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST'Funny People' Star Aziz Ansari Getting His Own 'Randy' Spin-offhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/funny-people-aziz-ansari-randy-spin-off/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/funny-people-aziz-ansari-randy-spin-off/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/25/funny-people-aziz-ansari-randy-spin-off/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If the sound of the name "Ruh-Ruh-Ruh-Raaaaaaaandy!" partnered with a few DJ effects and the sight of comic actor Aziz Ansari jumping maniacally around a stage made you tingle in Judd Apatow's Funny People, then prepare yourself for what I'm about to say: Randy is getting his own movie. To paraphrase Randy himself, if you fine folks are prepared to chortle until your genitals become disconnected from your body, let me hear you say "Yes!"

Variety reports that Ansari and fellow Human Giant collaborator Jason Woliner pitched the Randy spin-off to Apatow along with two other intended Ansari vehicles, a buddy road flick about motivational speakers and an astronaut comedy. While Apatow's production company will produce all three, the report doesn't mention which of the projects will happen first.

Over at the MTV Movies Blog, Christopher Campbell notes that just last week, Apatow indicated some hesitation on Ansari's part to revisit the character of Randy. "Aziz may be concerned that more people think he's Randy than Aziz," Apatow explained. And that may be a legitimate concern for Ansari, who currently co-stars on "Parks and Recreation." His Randy characterization is so subtle, even in its bombastic raunchiness, that it's an entirely believable comic persona -- kind of a douchebag persona, but a hilarious one nonetheless. (Personally, if Ansari did nothing but "Randy" for the rest of his life, I'd be satisfied.)

More on the Randy spin-off and a video from Funny People after the jump.

Continue reading 'Funny People' Star Aziz Ansari Getting His Own 'Randy' Spin-off

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]]>aziz ansariAzizAnsarifunny peopleFunnyPeopleHuman GiantHumanGiantJason WolinerJasonWolinerJudd ApatowJuddApatowRandyspin-offJen YamatoWed, 25 Nov 2009 10:02:00 ESTWhat a Surprise: 'The Howling' Gets a Remakehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/the-howling-remake/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/the-howling-remake/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/23/the-howling-remake/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What a complete non-surprise! Now that New Moon is raking in the cash, and doing what very little it can for the werewolves of the world, the vamps are gearing up for some further sharp-toothed competition. Variety reports that The Howling will return to the big screen by the hands of indie producers Joel Kastelberg and Etchie Stroh under the name The Howling: Reborn. Since it's been over three years since we first heard rumors of a remake, my guess is that this is a whole new can of worms.

A former marketing executive for studios like MGM and New Line, Joe Nimziki wrote the script and will direct it when the feature starts shooting this February. Once that's all done, they're hoping to get this howler into theaters for Halloween. The plot is being kept under wraps, but the original followed a TV newswoman who goes on a retreat after an ordeal with a serial killer, only to be thrust into a world of vampires werewolves.

Now here's where I say this is a missed opportunity. It's inevitable that each old-school horror flick will get rebooted. But why not try to up the ante, or at least insert wow-factor? We've seen the increased interest in Elm Street since Jackie Earle Haley took over, and that's a pretty mainstream franchise. Now imagine what The Howling could be if they coerced John Sayles into writing it again -- maybe not to be campy like the first, but a well-written piece of horror. That man is a pro at taking characters and situations and spinning an intricate web, so imagine if he intermingled his indie talents with his old-school horror ways. At the very least, it'd make the project immediately buzz worthy to a larger audience.

As it stands, do you want more Howling?

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]]>CinematicalJoe NimzikiJoeNimzikiJohn SaylesJohnSaylesThe HowlingThe Howling: RebornTheHowlingTheHowling:RebornMonika BartyzelMon, 23 Nov 2009 11:15:00 ESTMike White Starts a Santa Claus Civil Warhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/mike-white-starts-a-santa-claus-civil-war/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Not pleased with the likes of our latest serving of A Christmas Carol? Want a little more originality served with your ho-ho-ho's? This might be the answer: Variety reports that Paramount Pictures has tapped Mike White to write the script for a new comedy called Santa Wars. Oh yes, it's just like you'd imagine.

This project will follow the story of two rival factions that emerged within a group of professional Kris Kringles, and how they "became arch enemies during a Santa Claus civil war." And I should probably point out -- this concept is based on a true story. It all stems from a segment on Ira Glass' radio show This American Life, which aired last December and talked about how two professional Santas formed the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, only to become bitter rivals.

Talk about picking the perfect pen. White is the writer of all things weird, whether that be with creepy stalkers, transcript trouble, discontent with mundane life, rock 'n' roll classes, strange wrasslers, or dog obsession. Furthermore, he's jumped back and forth between mainstream and edgy indies, which means the potential for a film that will appeal to more than just the casual, family fare moviegoer. Let's just hope Paramount ignores this year's strange release schedules (Valentine's Day in the summer, Christmas before Thanskgiving) and serves this puppy up during the right season.

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]]>Christmas filmsChristmasFilmsCinematicalMike WhiteMikeWhiteSanta WarsSantaWarsThis American LifeThisAmericanLifeMonika BartyzelFri, 20 Nov 2009 18:02:00 ESTSam Worthington Gets Gritty in 'American Crime'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/20/sam-worthington-american-crime/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Few of us have had the chance to read Rick Remender's upcoming series, The Last Days of American Crime, but it's already tapped for the big-screen treatment. To sweeten the deal, American Crime already has a face. An Australian one. Mania is reporting that Sam Worthington has signed on to play the series' star criminal, Graham Brick.

American Crime is set in a near-future where the government has found a way to kill the criminal impulse in its citizens. That's good for everyone but the criminals, and chaos erupts as the unsavory element goes mad trying to get in one last job. One of these men is Graham Brick, who is in the midst of planning a big heist, and gets to watch all his best laid plans fall apart in a bloody fashion. I read the preview Radical handed out at Comic-Con this year, and like all previews, it was too short to really get a handle on the story. But the art was incredible, it was ridiculously violent, and it had that slimy feeling of Sin City. You can check out three pages here, and Radical has 15 pages up on MySpace. The first issue is scheduled to hit stands in December.

Remender will be penning the screenplay himself, and Radical will be producing it under their film shingle. We'll supposedly be getting a studio, a director, and more cast-members very soon, but it's tough to get excited without having read issue #1. Still, if this is really the mix of James Ellroy and David Mamet's Heist that Remender promises, Crime will be something to look out for.

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]]>Radical ComicsRadical Picturesradical publishingRadicalComicsRadicalPicturesRadicalPublishingrick remenderRickRemendersam worthingtonSamWorthingtonThe Last Days of American CrimeTheLastDaysOfAmericanCrimeElisabeth RappeFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:32:00 EST'Precious' Director Circles 'Selma' & Antoine Fuqua's Life of Crimehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/precious-selma-antoine-fuqua-life-of-cr/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/precious-selma-antoine-fuqua-life-of-cr/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/18/precious-selma-antoine-fuqua-life-of-cr/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The men behind Precious and Shooter are going back in time, according to Variety:

Having had wild success with Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, Lee Daniels is itching to go historical for his next feature. He's in "advanced negotiations" to helm Selma, a big-buzz Civil Rights-era drama penned by Paul Webb (Lincoln). The film, which would team him with Slumdog Millionaire producer Christian Colson, focuses on the marches between Selma and Montgomery in 1965, which were the peak of the Civil Rights movement. This means that while prospects of a Martin Luther King Jr. film might be hazy, he will get some time here, one would assume -- he was one of the leaders drawn to the area where marches quickly turned to "Bloody Sunday" with force from local and state police.

And in a wholly different historic affair, it seems Antoine Fuqua and Spike Lee are getting ready for a pimp-n-ho crime spree. Fuqua will direct John Ridley's adaptation of the graphic novel Miss: Better Living Through Crime, with Lee executive producing. Set in 1900s New York, the project focuses on Sola and Slim, "a poor white girl who has learned to survive by hook or by crook since being expelled from the orphanage," and the "black pimp with an uncertain past, trying to keep one foot out of the grave." But, it's not as you might think -- the pair team up to become killers for hire.

Along with Jennifer Hudson as Winnie Mandella, it's refreshing to see a whole slew of projects in the works free of African-American crossdressers-for-laughs.

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]]>Antoine FuquaAntoineFuquaCinematicalJohn RidleyJohnRidleyLee DanielsLeeDanielsMiss: Better Living Through CrimeMiss:BetterLivingThroughCrimePaul WebbPaulWebbSelmaSpike LeeSpikeLeeMonika BartyzelWed, 18 Nov 2009 15:15:00 ESTJerry Bruckheimer and Disney Developing 'Alien Legion'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/jerry-bruckheimer-disney-alien-legion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/jerry-bruckheimer-disney-alien-legion/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/jerry-bruckheimer-disney-alien-legion/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Comics never really die. They become cult classics, cherished until they're revived, republished, and optioned by Disney. Such is the tale of Alien Legion, which is soon to enjoy a revival that'll have many a comic fan claiming they were there from the beginning. (I won't be one of them -- I'll openly confess that it passed me right by.)

Creator Carl Potts described Alien Legion as "the Foreign Legion in space," and it's probably best described as melting pot of military and sci-fi, as Star Trek, Star Wars and The Dirty Dozen all influenced its vision of intergalactic soldiers banding together for honor, fortune, and adventure. It was one of Marvel's longest running series under their Epic Comics' banner, and it's been one that fans have continued to champion. Now it's being republished in a beautiful Dark Horse omnibus (which means out-of-the-loop losers like myself can finally read it), and getting four brand new issues from Dark Horse starting in 2010.

It's also on its way to the big screen. USA Today sat down all its creators, and Potts revealed that Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney were currently developing a feature film out of the series. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt are currently working on the third draft of the script, and Disney is undoubtedly hoping it could become another blockbuster franchise. I'd love to see the Mouse House actually develop a viable sci-fi franchise of their own, and Alien Legion is certainly a very promising series. Let's hope its cult of fans are rewarded with a good adaptation after all their years of devotion, and they don't resent the rest of us for coming to the party so late.

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]]>Alien LegionAlienLegionCarl PottsCarlPottsderek haasDerekHaasDisneyEpic ComicsEpicComicsJerry BruckheimerJerryBruckheimerMarvelmichael brandtMichaelBrandtElisabeth RappeTue, 17 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST'Captain Nemo' Is Dead in the Water at Disneyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/captain-nemo-dead-disney/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/captain-nemo-dead-disney/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/captain-nemo-dead-disney/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

The klaxons are sounding for the Nautilus and Captain Nemo's origin story. Variety reports that Disney has quietly shelved the project, and McG has been released from duty in order to seek better fortune ashore.

The project was scheduled to begin production this February, and was on a fast track under Dick Cook. But as you probably remember, Cook was shown the door a few months ago. Many of Disney's big projects seem to be left dangling as stars like Johnny Depp decide whether they're sailing or staying ashore. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo is just the latest, though Disney insists big popcorn flicks will still be a focus for them.

Leagues had already been a revolving door of rumors, with Will Smith said to be in the running to play Nemo. Justin Marks was originally penning the script, but was replaced by Randall Wallace this past July. Variety reports that the project was being penned by Bill Marsilli, so presumably Wallace was off as well. While it's not unusual to have three screenwriters on a project, it doesn't sound like this submarine had a reliable captain. Perhaps the Nautilus will sail again as a proper steampunk picture that explores his romantic Indian past, and not a slapdash summerfest.

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]]>000 leagues under the sea000 Leagues Under the Sea Captain Nemo000LeaguesUnderTheSea000LeaguesUnderTheSeaCaptainNemo20Bill MarsilliBillMarsillicaptain nemoCaptainNemoDisneyfeaturedJules VerneJulesVerneJustin MarksJustinMarksMcGRandall WallaceRandallWallaceWill SmithWillSmithElisabeth RappeTue, 17 Nov 2009 11:15:00 ESTRyan Reynolds and Anna Faris to Share 'TMI'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/ryan-reynolds-and-anna-faris-to-share-tmi/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/ryan-reynolds-and-anna-faris-to-share-tmi/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/17/ryan-reynolds-and-anna-faris-to-share-tmi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

There's something to be said for those plain old reliable comedies, those that don't bust guts or break records but are always good for a spin in their inevitable cable circulation, stuff along the lines of Role Models, I Love You, Man and Just Friends. That last one has proven particularly endearing (to me anyway) due to the priceless pairing of Ryan Reynolds' perfect snark with Anna Faris' endearing ditziness (they also went at each other in Waiting..., to much amusement).

It's that combination that gives me reason enough for me to care about TMI, an all-too-honest rom-com reuniting these two. Hell, their teaming is itself enough for me to hope that they can do right by a screenplay written by the minds behind Serendipity and The Ugly Truth; after all, Faris did bring all the funny to co-writer Kirsten Smith's The House Bunny.

Not sure how much else there is to say, really. It's like hearing that someone's about to get your sexy, funny peanut butter in your sexy, funny chocolate... all over again.

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]]>anna farisAnnaFarisjust friendsJustFriendskristen smithKristenSmithmarc kleinMarcKleinryan reynoldsRyanReynoldstmiWilliam GossTue, 17 Nov 2009 09:45:00 EST'Young@Heart' Sings Its Way to Narrative Filmhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/young-heart-sings-its-way-to-narrative-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/young-heart-sings-its-way-to-narrative-film/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/16/young-heart-sings-its-way-to-narrative-film/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Remember that super-cute and super-rocking senior documentary Young@Heart, which hit screens last year? It's becoming a feature film, and The Hollywood Reporter posts that Working Title has found a new scribe in Will Reiser (I'm With Cancer). The rights had originally been bought back in 2007, and writer Bob Nelson had written a draft, but now, much like their senior subjects, the project is getting a new jolt of life.

As I hope you know by now, the film follows a chorus of senior citizens (average age of 80) who came together and toured -- not singing "old folks" songs for retirement homes, but all-out mainstream concerts featuring modern hits and classics from the likes of The Clash, Coldplay, and James Brown. The documentary dipped into their performances and their lives (some passed away during production).

Can you think of any movie that could be more fun on the big screen? Think about the senior-aged talent and Hollywood, and then imagine them rocking out. It would make that scene in The Wedding Singer look like nothin'. Betty White. Cloris Leachman (and New York, I Love You co-star Eli Wallach). Andy Griffith. Adam West. Anne Meara. The list goes on and on. This could be epic, and of course, I'm probably getting my hopes up way too high, but just think of the possibilities. What older stars would you like to see on the big screen, belting out rock tunes? Rock out to this clip and weigh in below.

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]]>CinematicalWill REiserWillReiserYoung at HeartYoungAtHeartMonika BartyzelMon, 16 Nov 2009 10:32:00 ESTBicycle Messengering Gets Intense With David Koepp's 'Premium Rush'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/david-koepp-premium-rush/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/david-koepp-premium-rush/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/david-koepp-premium-rush/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When was the last time you recall seeing an actual bicycle messenger? Unless you live in a densely populated, car-hating metropolis, chances are rather slim that you ever see someone on a bike with a package under their arm, ducking and diving all manner of obstacles before screeching to a halt in front of a skyscraper and racing inside to drop off said package just in the nick of time. Which is why it is simultaneously bizarre and fascinating to me that David Koepp would pick the high-stakes world of two-wheeled courier services as the frame for his next directorial project.

What's even more fascinating is the scale Premium Rush, which I am 99% positive is the name of a Capri Sun flavor I used to drink in the '90s, is set up to be. Sony is bankrolling the production, which Variety says they see as "a big-budget actioner, much like the films Koepp is known for penning, and will feature the kind of elaborate chases associated with a William Friedkin pic." The Friedkin emulation I can understand, as The French Connection still remains a benchmark chase film, but the big budget Koepp titles they're referencing include Spider-Man, Jurassic Park, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Continue reading Bicycle Messengering Gets Intense With David Koepp's 'Premium Rush'

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]]>bike messengerBikeMessengerDavid KoeppDavidKoeppPremium RushPremiumRushthrillerPeter HallThu, 12 Nov 2009 18:03:00 EST'Buffy' Scribe Will Write 'Fright Night' Remake!http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/fright-night-remake-writer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/fright-night-remake-writer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/12/fright-night-remake-writer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Fright Night remake is back on. Back in January, we learned that the project had been halted when they couldn't come up with a good script. Ten months later, The Hollywood Reporter posts that Marti Noxon (executive producer and writer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has been hired to rewrite the horror comedy, trading one set of vamps for another.

While Joss Whedon is facing cancellation, Marti Noxon is going strong. The vampire slayer marked Noxon's big break in the biz, and since helping run the show, she's had her hand in a slew of series from Prison Break to Mad Men. This will be her first big cinematic gig, her lone movie credit to this point being the 1998 film Just a Little Harmless Sex. But what will it all mean for a redo of Fright Night, where a kid finds out that a vampire lives next door?

Noxon kicked off her Buffy writing penning the "What's My Line" duo, the terrible "Bad Eggs," and the sex that turned Angel evil. From there, most of her writing gigs were mainly toss-off eps, with occasional perks in episodes like "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "The Prom." In other words: I'm not so sure what to make of this, other than the fact that her strongest writing seems to be linked to big interpersonal moments, which do not make for the best vamp comedy. Thoughts?

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]]>CinematicalFright NightFrightNightMarti NoxonMartiNoxonMonika BartyzelThu, 12 Nov 2009 11:16:00 EST'Sgt. Rock' Looks to the Future with Francis Lawrencehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/sgt-rock-looks-to-the-future-with-francis-lawrence/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/sgt-rock-looks-to-the-future-with-francis-lawrence/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/10/sgt-rock-looks-to-the-future-with-francis-lawrence/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Once upon a time, Sgt. Rock was in the hands of Guy Ritchie, and many an Easy Company fan was upset. But you'll undoubtedly wish that Ritchie and Joel Silver had made it to the finish line, because Sgt. Rock will not make it to the big screen in a form you'll recognize. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he has a new director in Francis Lawrence and a whole new space-time continuum. Joel Silver is still on board as producer, and he's bringing Akiva Goldsman on board to help. They've hired newcomer Chad St. John to pen the script.

As you may or may not know, Sgt. Rock is a WWII soldier. He's always fought in WWII. The poor guy has never even gotten to leave the European theater. (It was rumored in Swamp Thing that he was transferred to the Pacific, but never confirmed.) Any attempt at a movie adaptation has always gone forward with this central idea of keeping him in his element. But budget, politics, and popularity has always been an issue, and no one believes you can make The Dirty Dozen in this day and age unless you're Quentin Tarantino. So Warner Bros has decided to bypass the drama, and put Sgt. Rock in the future. CG is cheaper than Nazis, and a nondescript soldier of the future is less problematic than an American fighting a good fight. (While no war is a good war, I do think we can all agree that fighting Nazis was a good thing.)

Nothing else is known about this storyline, so I hate to jump to a knee-jerk conclusion as to who or what Sgt. Rock will face there, or whether he will be transported to the future from WWII. But I think this is an unfortunate thing to do to a character who resides in WWII for a very specific and honorable reason. The last thing he should become is a Universal Soldier or Terminator ripoff.

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]]>Akiva GoldsmanAkivaGoldsmanDC ComicsDcComicsfrancis lawrenceFrancisLawrenceguy ritchieGuyRitchiejoel silverJoelSilverSgt. RockSgt.RockElisabeth RappeTue, 10 Nov 2009 09:45:00 ESTThe 'Se7en' Crew Reunites to Get 'Proud'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/the-se7en-crew-reunites-to-get-proud/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/the-se7en-crew-reunites-to-get-proud/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/09/the-se7en-crew-reunites-to-get-proud/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Se7en... I'll never forget the first time I watched it, nestled with friends into the old seats at Gettysburg's Majestic Theater, all of us enamored, shocked, chilled, and buzzed on the thrill of the film IMDb ranks as #27 out of the Top 250 Films. It's one of those movies that elicits glazed eyes of fandom at its mention. But could the magic be brought to life again?

The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision Blog reports that Se7en alums David Fincher, Andrew Kevin Walker, and Michael De Luca are re-teaming to make a new adaptation of Max Ehrlich's The Reincarnation of Peter Proud for Columbia Pictures. Fincher is, of course, attached to direct, and Walker will pen the script. (The book was originally adapted by Ehrlich himself for the film back in 1975.) The story focuses on a college prof who becomes plagued by recurring dreams and nightmares that he realizes are memories of a past life. With the help of his girlfriend, he tries to find the source of the visions and "discovers a woman and her grown-up daughter who are keys to his past life." The original story got in some hot water for a subplot rife with incest, but methinks that will be diluted or deleted this time around as everything gets updated.

With all of this in place, the only blocks left are the cast. It might seem like an easy pick, but I'd love to see Kevin Kline bite into this. Yes, he's the go-to guy for college professors, but he's also severely talented and severely under-utilized. A role like this could rip him out of the crap. But if the choice was yours, who would you like to see crack the past? Or are you just recoiling at word of another remake?

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]]>Andrew Kevin WalkerAndrewKevinWalkerCinematicalDavid FincherDavidFincherMax EhrlichMaxEhrlichMichael De LucaMichaelDeLucaSe7enThe Reincarnation of Peter ProudTheReincarnationOfPeterProudMonika BartyzelMon, 09 Nov 2009 09:45:00 ESTAmy Heckerling Gets Vampy with Krysten Ritterhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/amy-heckerling-gets-vampy-with-krysten-ritter/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/amy-heckerling-gets-vampy-with-krysten-ritter/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/11/07/amy-heckerling-gets-vampy-with-krysten-ritter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I hope you don't hate vampires, because they don't seem to be going anywhere. Now Amy Heckerling, the woman behind Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless, is getting in on the bloodsucking. According to Screen Daily, Parlay Films has grabbed the international rights to an upcoming romantic comedy called Vamps, that Heckerling will write and direct.

"The film will be a modern-day tale of two young female vampires living the good life in New York until love enters the picture and each has to make a choice that will jeopardize their immortality." Krysten Ritter will star as one of the lead vamps, and they're still searching for the other bloodsucker. This marks a big jump from the actress, who has moved from bubbly side gigs on shows like Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars to some cinematic supporting roles, a lead gig in the web series Woke Up Dead, and now her first starring film job.

Perhaps I'm being overly hopeful, but it's time for Heckerling to bring us her next comedy classic, and I'm hoping this is it. There was a 13-year span between Ridgemont and Clueless, and it's been 14 years since Cher found love with Josh, so could this be the next Heckerling extravaganza we won't want to heckle? Or, just another project in an oversaturated market?

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]]>Amy HeckerlingAmyHeckerlingCinematicalKrysten RitterKrystenRitterVampsMonika BartyzelSat, 07 Nov 2009 15:33:00 EST